Friction-feed for sawmills.



No. 733.514, PATENTED JULY 14, 1903. S. SMITH.

PRICTION FEED -FOR SAWMILLS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1903.

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No. 733.514. PATENTED JULY 14. 1.903. S. SMITH.

PRICTION FEED FOR SAWMILLS.

`APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 8, 1903.

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NTTED STATES Patented July 14, 1903.

SAM SMITH, OF THUNDER, GEORGIA.

FRICTION-FEED FOR SAWNHLLS.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 733,514, dated July 14, 1903.

Application filed IIanuary 8, 1903. Serial No. 138,309. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAM SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing atTh under, in the county of Upson and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Friction-Feed for Sawmills, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to frictional feed devices for sawmills; and it has for its object to provide a device of this class in which coggearing of any kind and belting, except the large driving-belt, shall be entirely absent, thus enabling the machine to be run with less jarring and wear upon the component parts than is the casein so-called friction-gearing, where more or less cog-gearing is utilized for the purpose of transmitting motion between the parts.

A further object of the invention is to pro-A vide a friction feed in which the speed may be varied to suit the circumstances of the work and in which the return movement of the carriage may be swiftly7 performed at exactly the proper moment.

lVith these and other objects in View the invention consists in theimproved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View illustrating my invention as applied to an ordinary sawmill-frame. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation showing the disposition of the parts while feeding the carriage toward the saw. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation showing the relative disposition of the parts to effect the reverse movement. Fig. 4is adetail View showing a modilication.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by like characters of reference.

The frame 1, which supports the working partsof my invention, may be framed together of timbers of any suitable dimensions and in any suitable way or manner.

The side pieces 2 2 of the frame support the boxing 3 3, in which is journaled the main shaft 4, carrying at one end the saw 5 and at the other end the band-wheel 6, which receives motion by means of a belt or band from any suitable source of power.

The main shaft 4carries a friction-wheel 7,

which is provided with two friction or contact surfaces-namely, a peripheral surface 8 and a side surface 9.

10 designates'a shaft mounted in suitable bearings in the frame, parallel to the main shaft Ltand carrying at its outer end apinion 11, which engages in the usual manner a rack or feed bar disposed upon the carriage, which in practice is mounted upon atrack adjacent and parallel to the sawmillframe. These parts have not been illustrated in the drawings, inasmuch as they are of ordinary wellknown construction and form no part of my present invention. The shaft 10 carries at its in ner end a frictionlwheel 12, which is constructed exactly like the friction-wheel 7,with which it is located in longitudinal alinement, said friction-wheel 12 being provided with a peripheral contact-surface 13 and a side contact-surface 14.

Longitudinal frame-pieces 15 15, connecting the end sills 16 16 of the frame between the side pieces 2 2, are provided with bearings for a transverse shaft 17, carrying a frictionwheel 1S, having a peripheral contact-surface adapted to engage the peripheral contactsurfaces of the friction-wheels 7 and 12, between and below which the said frictionwheel 1S is located. The boxes or bearings 19 of the shaft 17,carrying the disk 18, are provided with slots 20, within which the said shaft 17 has a limited Vertical play or movement. Thus when the shaft 17 rests in the lower ends of the slots 20 the friction-wheel 1S is out of engagement with the peripheral contact-surfaces of the wheels 7 and 12. When the shaft 17 is moved in an upward direction, carrying with it the disk 18, the periphery of the latter will be forced into contact with the peripheral contact-surfaces of the wheels 7 and 12, thus communicating motion from the former to the latter, as will be readily understood. The normal position occupied by the shaft 17 at the bottom of lthe slot 20 supports the friction-wheellSinaninoperativeposition. To throw the said friction-wheel into operation, I avail myself of mechanism which will be presently hereinafter described.

Bearings are provided in a cross-,piece V21, which is supported upon the longitudinal frame-pieces 15, and in one of the end sills 16 for an inclined shaft 22, carrying at one end IOO a friction-pulley 23, engaging with the side contact-face 9 of the friction-Wheel 7. The pulley 23 is provided with a collar 24, having -an annular groove 25 and keyed upon the shaft by means of a spline or feather 5l to cause it to have a rotary movement therewith. It will be observed that by moving the friction-pulley 23 upon the-shaft 22 in the direction of the center of the friction-pnlley7 the speed of said friction-pulley 23 will be retarded, While by moving the friction-pulley 23 inthe direction of the peripheryof frictionpulley 7 its speed will be increased. This movement is effected by means which will be presently more fully described. l

26 designates a sleeve, which is connected With the shaft 22 by means of a key 27 or in any other suitable manner which will permit the said sleeve to have a sliding movement upon the said shaft and to revolve therewith. The sleeve 26 carries at one end a friction-pulley 28, which engages normally the side contact-surface 14 of the Wheel l2. The sleeve 26 has an-annular groove 29 engaging the legs of a bifurcated lever 30, which is fulcru med upon a pin or shaft 31, connecting the lower ends of brackets 32, which depend from the longitudinal frame-pieces l5, said bifurcated lever straddling the sleeve 26, so as to engage the longitudinal groove therein, and being extended from thence upwardly to form a handle portion provided with a dog or pawl 33, adapted to engage the notches 34 in a segmental rack-bar 35, supported at one end upon a suitably-disposed bracket 35a and at its other end upon one of the end sills of the frame. By this means the operatinglever, carrying with it the sleeve 26, having the friction-pulley 28, may be secured at any desired point of adjustment.

52 designates a connecting-rod, which is bent to a suitable shape to render it effective in the connection in Which it is placed. One part of said connecting-rod extends through a slot or opening 53 in the cross-piece 21 and is provided at its end with a yoke 54, engaging the annular groove 25 in the hub or collar 24 of the friction-pulley 23, thus permitting the latter to revolve freely with the shaft 22 and also to have a longitudinally-sliding movement on said shaft. This sliding movement is effected by means of the lever 30, which is connected at a suitable distance from its fulcrum With the opposite end of the connecting-rod 52.

36 designates a rod connected pivotally with the lever 30 and extending under the shaft 17, carrying the friction-wheel 1S, and through a bearing 37, in which it has a longitudinally-sliding movement. The upper side of the rod 36 carries a wedge 38, adapted to engage the under side of the shaft l7,which will thus when the lever 30 is thrown in the direction of the arrow serve to elevate said shaft until the friction-Wheel 18 comes into contact with the peripheral contact-surfaces of the Wheels 7 and 12.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood. When the lever 30 occupies the position shown in Fig. 2 of the draw ings, motion is transmitted through the friction-pulleys 23 and 28 from the friction-Wheel 7 to the friction-wheel 12, thus rotating the shaft of the latter to feed the sawmill-carriage toward the saw. It is obvious that when the pulley 28 engages the friction-surface 14 of the wheel12 at the point nearest its center the speed is the greatest, as is also the speed transmitted from the friction-pulley 7 to the pulley 23. When the carriage approaches the end of its movement, thelever 30 is shifted in the direction of the arrow, carrying with it the sleeve 26 and friction-pulley28, as well as the friction-pulley 23. The former being gradually carried toward the periphery of the contact-surface 14 and the latter being gradually carried toward the center of the contact-surface 9, the speed will be gradually reduced until the end of the movement has been reached, when the pulley 28 passes out of engagement with the friction-surface 14. At the same time, however, the rod 36 has been pushed by the lever 30 in the direction of the arrow, causing the wedge 38 to gradually raise the shaft 17 until the friction-wheel 18 engages the peripheral contact-surfaces of the wheels 7 and 12. The movement is thus suddenly and instantaneously reversed and the carriage is returned to itsinitial position, when by restoring the lever 30 to its original position, as shown in Fig. 2, a forward movement of the carriage will immediately begin to take place. v

I desire it to be understood that it is not absolutely necessary to the successful operation of my invention that the friction-pulley 23 should be slidable upon the shaft 22 by means of the lever 30 and connecting-rod 52. The said friction-pulley might be made stationary upon the shaft, as shown in Fig. 4, by means of a set-screw 56 extending through the hub thereof, and thus securing it upon the shaft in any desired position with relation to the friction-surface of the wheel 7, the adjustment being then simply for the purpose of regulating the speed of the device.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the general construction and arrangement of the operating parts of my improved sawmill feed mechanism is extremely simple and free from the complication and disadvantages resulting from cog-gearing of any kind, the pinion 11 forming no part of the feed mechanism proper.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself as regards the detailed construction of any of the parts of my invention. Thus, for instance, I have in the accompanying drawings illustrated the friction-Wheels 17 and 12 as being provided with disks extending beyond the peripheries of said wheels, so as to form iianges, and the said disks constituting the side contact-surfaces. When this construction is resorted to, I am enabled to use wooden wheels with metallic disks formroo IOS

IIO

ingcontact-surfaces. The disks being extended so as to form iianges, also serve to a certain extent to guide and prevent the displacement of the intermediate friction-wheel 1S. I would also have it understood that the several friction wheels and pulleys may be provided with collars having set-screws, whereby their adjustment upon their respective shafts may be readily edected. I reserve the right to these and to any other modifications which may be resorted to without interferingr with the utility of my invention or departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. In a device of the class described, the combination of two friction-disks, a main shaft or arbor and a counter-shaft carrying said disks, a friction-pulley engaging the side contact-surface ofthe friction-wheel upon the main shaft, a shaft carrying said friction-pulley, a sleeve mounted slidingly upon said shaft,a friction-pulley upon said sleeve adapted to engage the side contact-surface of the friction-wheel upon thevcounter-shaft, and means for moving the said sleeve-supported friction-pulley radially out of contact with said friction-wheel upon the counter-shaft.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of two friction-disks, a main shaft or arbor and a counter-shaft carrying said disks, a friction-pulley engaging the side contact-surface of the friction-Wheel upon the main shaft, a shaft carrying said friction-pulley, asleeve mounted slidingly upon the shaft of said friction-pulley, a friction-pulley upon said sleeve adapted to engage the side contact-surface of the friction-wheel upon the counter-shaft, means for moving the said sleeve-supported friction-pulley radially out of Contact with the said friction-wheel upon the counter-shaft, and means for imparting to the friction-pulley engaging the side contact-surface of the friction-wheel upon the main shaft a corresponding sliding movement radially with relation t'o said contact-surface.

3. In a device of the class described, a friction-gearing comprising two friction-wheels having peripheral and side contact-surfaces, a friction-pulley engaging the side of one of said friction-wheels, a friction-pulley slidable radially with relation to and normally engaging the side of the other friction-wheel, means for moving the said slidable pulley radially into or out of contact with its cooperating friction-wheel, and an interposed frictionwheel for peripherally engaging and transmitting motion between the first-named friction-wheels.

a. In a device of the class described, a friction-gearing comprising two friction-wheels having peripheral and side contact-surfaces, a friction-pulley engaging the side of one of said friction wheels, a friction pulley normally engaging the side of the other frictionwheel, means for simultaneously moving the said pulleys radially with relation to their respective contact-surfaces, the one toward and the other from the center of said contact-surface, and an interposed friction-wheel for peripherally engaging and transmitting motion between the first-named friction-wheels.

5. In a device of the class described, a friction-gearing for transmitting and reversing motion, comprising two friction-wheels, two friction-pulleys engaging the sides of said wheels, one of said pulleys being radially slidable with relation to its cooperating wheel, means for moving said slidable pulley radially into and out of engagement with its cooperating wheel, a friction-disk located intermediately between and normally out of engagement with the friction-wheels, means whereby said friction-disk shall be caused to engage the peripheral surfaces of the frictionwheels at the time when the slidable frictionpulley passes out of engagement with the contacting surface of its cooperating frictionwheel, and a frame and shafts supporting the several friction-wheels, pulleys and operating means.

6. In a device of the class described, a friction-gearing for transmitting and reversing motion comprising twofriction-wheels,means, normally active, for transmitting motion between the side contact-surfaces of said wheels,

means, normally inactive, for transmittingmotion between the peripheral surfaces of said wheels, and mechanism for throwing the means for transmitting the motion between the peripheral surfaces of the wheels into operation when the means for transmitting motion between the side surfaces of said wheels is thrown out of operation, and vice versa.

7. In a device of the class described, a friction-gearing for transmitting and reversing motion, comprising two friction-wheels, a pnl-- ley engaging the side surface of one of said wheels, a slidable sleeve, a pulley on said sleeve normally engaging the side surface of the other wheel, a vertically-movable shaft between the friction-Wheels, a disk mounted upon said shaft between the friction-wheels and adapted to engage the peripheral surfaces thereof, a lever engaging and operating the sleeve carrying the slidable friction-pulley, a sliding rod connected with. said lever, and a wedge upon said rod adapted to engage the underside of the vertically-movable shaft carrying the intermediate friction-disk.

S. In a device of the class described, a friction-gearing for transmitting and reversingI motion, comprising two friction-wheels, a pulley engaging the side surface of one of said wheels and radially movable with relation thereto, a slidable sleeve, a pulley on said sleeve normally engaging the side surface of the other wheel, a vertically-movable shaft, an intermediate friction-disk mounted upon said verticallymovable shaft between the friction wheels and adapted to engage the peripheral surfaces thereof, a lever engaging and operating the sleeve carrying the slidable IOG IIO

my own I have hereto affixed .my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAM SMITH.

friction-pulley, means forsimultaneously adjusting the radially-movable pulleys, a. sliding rod connected With said lever', and a Wedge l upon said rod adapted 'to engage the under i 5 side of the vertically-movable shaft carrying l W'itnesses: Y

the intermediate friction-disk. EARNEST T, RIGGINS,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as THOMAS RIGGINS. 

